Drill tool

ABSTRACT

A drill tool for drilling earth, rock, and the like in oil industry operations includes a body member having a passage in a pin portion thereof and extending longitudinally of the body member and between an open or fluid receiving end and a closed end and a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms or lugs extending generally longitudinally from the closed end of the passage in the body member and each having an axle portion thereon for rotatably mounting a respective one of a plurality of cutting cones each rotating about a respective axis intersecting with a longitudinal axis of the body member to define a respective acute angle therebetween. The drill tool has at least one flow passage through one of the arms or lugs for directing drilling fluid from the passage in the body member into the drill hole for sweeping the drill hole and removing drilling debris therefrom. Exterior surfaces of the axle portions each have a reservoir and at least one passage communicating therewith and extending to the respective exterior surface for circulating lubrication material within a cavity in the respective cutting cones and having seals thereby providing lubrication of engaging surfaces of the axle portions and cutting cones.

[ DRILL TOOL [76] Inventor: Edward B. Williams, Jr., PO. Box

648, 103 Mullaney Rd., Greenville, Tex. 75401 22 Filed: June 11, 1973 21App]. No.: 368,755

[52] 11.8. C1 175/227, 175/337, 175/340, 175/371 [51] lnt. Cl E211) 9/10[58] Field 01' Search 175/227-229, 175/337, 350, 339, 340, 353, 371,372; 308/82 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 959,540 5/1910Hughes 1. 175/228 2,065,742 12/1936 Reed 308/82 2,654,577 10/1953 308/822,814,465 11/1957 308/82 3,127,942 4/1964 175/227 3,144,087 8/1964Williams 175/339 3,230,020 l/1966 Gilbert et al 175/228 X 3,244,4594/1966 175/229 X 3,476,195 11/1969 175/228 3,476,446 11/1969 Neilson308/82 3,746,405 7/1973 Welton 308/82 Primary Examiner David H. BrownAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Fishburn, Gold & Litman [451 Oct. 29, 1974 [57]ABSTRACT A drill tool for drilling earth, rock, and the like in oilindustry operations includes a body member having a passage in a pinportion thereof and extending longitudinally of the body member andbetween an open or fluid receiving end and a closed end and a pluralityof circumferentially spaced arms or lugs extending generallylongitudinally from the closed end of the passage in the body member andeach having an axle portion thereon for rotatably mounting a respectiveone of a plurality of cutting cones each rotating about a respectiveaxis intersecting with a longitudinal axis of the body member to definea respective acute angle therebetween. The drill tool has at least oneflow passage through one of the arms or lugs for directing drillingfluid from the passage in the body member into the drill hole forsweeping the drill hole and removing drilling debris therefrom. Exteriorsurfaces of the axle portions each have a reservoir and at least onepassage communicating therewith and extending to the respective exteriorsurface for circulating lubrication material within a cavity in therespective cutting cones and having seals thereby providing lubricationof engaging surfaces of the axle portions and cutting cones.

7 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures- PATENTEDUBTZS m4 8844l363 sum 2 or 4 DRILLTOOL The present invention relates to earth drilling tools and moreparticularly to a drill tool for use in oil industry operations andhaving a plurality of rotatably mounted self-lubricating cutting conesand adapted to clean a drill hole ahead of certain teeth of the cuttingcones.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide aself-lubricating drill tool for use in oil industry operations andhaving a plurality of rotatably mounted cutting cones adapted to drill asubstantially true drill hole; to provide such a drill tool having flowpassages therethrough positioned to direct drilling fluid into the drillhole to hydraulically sweep the bottom of the hole whereby certain teethof the cutting cones are engaging new material rather than working indrilling debris; to provide such a drill tool having reservoirs forlubrication material and passages extending therefrom and adapted tocirculate lubrication material onto facing surfaces of axle portions andrespective cutting cones rotatably mounted thereon and with the cuttingcones each having a cavity with seals whereby the drill tool isself-lubricating; to provide such a drill tool employing lock devices,such as rings having circumferentially spaced corrugations to permiteasy installation of the cutting cones on respective axle'portions andpositive retention thereon; to provide such a drill tool wherein onlyone cutting cone has teeth positioned to engage an intersection of aside and a bottom of the drill hole whereby the drill hole is largerthan the drill tool; to provide such a tool having flow passages adaptedto direct drilling fluid into the drill hole and hydraulically sweepdrilling debris ahead of the cutting cone engaging the intersection ofthe side and bottom of the drill hole; to provide such a drill toolwherein the cutting cones present teeth extending substantially the fulltransverse dimension of the tool; to provide such a drill tool which issubstantially self-centering; and to provide such a drill tool which isdurable in use, balanced for smooth working, constructed for longoperating life, economical to manufacture, and particularly well adaptedfor the proposed use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and examplecertain embodiments of this invention.

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and includeexemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate variousobjects and features of the drill tool.

FIG. I is a perspective view of a drill tool embodying features of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the drill tool FIG. 3 is a planview of the working surfaces of the drill tool.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 4-4, FIG. 3 andshowing a first body portion and cutting cone thereon.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 5-5, FIG. 3 andshowing a second body portion and cutting cone thereon.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 6-6, FIG. 3 andshowing a third body portion and cutting cone thereon.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the first body portion.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the second body portion.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective body portion.

FIG. 10 is a further enlarged front elevational view of a lock ring forthe drill tool.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the lock ring and shown at thescale of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG. 4 and showing amodified first body portion and cutting cone thereon.

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG. 5 and showing amodified second body portion and cutting cone thereon.

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG. 6 and showing amodified third body portion and cutting cone thereon.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein. However, it is to be un derstood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in variousforms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosedherein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis forthe claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in theart to variously employ the present invention in virtually anyappropriately detailed structure.

In the disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the referencenumeral 1 generally designates a drill tool for drilling earth, rock,and the like in oil industry operations. The drill tool 1 includes abody member 2 having a passage 3 extending longitudinally thereof andbetween an open or fluid receiving end 4 and a closed end 5 of the bodymember 2 and a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms or lugs 6, 7,and 8 each extending generally longitudinally from the body member 2adjacent the closed end 5 of the passage 3 in the body member 2 andhaving axle portions 9, 10, and 11 respectively extending therefrom forrotatably mounting thereon cutting cones l2, l3, and 14 respectivelyeach rotating about a respective axis which intersects a longitudinalaxis of the body member 2 thereby defining a respective acute anglebetween the respecview of the third tive axis and the longitudinal axisof the body member 2. The drilltool I has flow passages therethrough, aslater described, for directing drilling fluid from the passage 3 in thebody member 2 into a drill hole 15 to remove drilling debris therefrom.Exterior surfaces of the axle portions 9, 10, and 11 have reservoirs 16,17, and 18 therein respectively and at least one passage 19, 20, and 21respectivelycommunicating therewith and extending to the respectiveexterior surface for circulating lubrication material within a sealedcavity in the respective cutting cones l2, l3, and 14 thereby providinglubrication of engaging surfaces of the axle portions 9, l0, and 11 andthe cutting cones 12, 13, andl4.

The body member 2 is illustrated as being of a generally cylindricalshape having a pin portion 22 having an exterior surface which hasconventional threads for mounting in a box of a lowermost tool joint ofa tubular drill stem or steel (not shown) which extendsinto the drillhole 15.

The drill tool 1 may have any number of cutting cones thereon, however,it has been found that three cutting cones can be arranged in a mannerto provide teeth extending substantially the full transverse dimensionof the drill tool 1. The cutting cones 12, 13, and 14 arecircumferentially spaced and positioned on 120 centers.

The first arm or lug 6 is enlarged outwardly and extends generallylongitudinally from the body member 2 and has an outwardly inclinedexterior surface 23 whereby the arm or lug 6 is substantially largeradjacent the axle portion 9 than at the closed end 5 of the passage 3.

The axle portion 9 on the first arm or lug 6 extends toward alongitudinal axis of the body member 2 and defines an axis of rotationof the cutting cone 12 and the axis of rotation is positioned to definean acute angle between the longitudinal axis of the body member 2 andthe axis of rotation of the cutting cone 12. The illustrated axleportion 9 has a larger or first portion extending from the arm or lug 6and a smaller or second portion 24 having a reduced diameter therebydefining a shoulder 25 between the larger and smaller portions of theaxle portion 9 for the cutting cone 12 to bear against.

Flow of a suitable drilling fluid through the drill tool 1 and into thedrill hole 15 effects removal of drilling debris from the drill hole,therefore, the first arm or lug 6 has a flow passage 26 extending fromthe passage 3 in the body member 2 and substantially centered in thefirst arm or lug 6. The flow passage 26 extends from a recess in thewalls defining the passage 3 in the body member 2 and defines agenerally L-shaped path having an end portion extending along the axisof rotation of the cutting cone 12.

A nozzle 27 is mounted in the end portion of the flow passage 26 and ispositioned in an end of the axle portion 9 to increase the velocity offlow from the flow passage 26 as the flow enters the drill hole 15. Anexterior surface of the nozzle 27 and the surface defining the flowpassage 26 each have alignable grooves therein adapted to receive a lockring 28, as later described, for securing the nozzle 27 in the flowpassage 26.

The cutting cone 12 is journaled on the axle portion 9 and therebyrequires lubrication material for free rotation. in the illustratedstructure, the reservoir 16 is recessed in the exterior surface of thelarger portion of the axle portion 9 and is adapted to receive andretain therein lubrication material. The illustrated reservoir 16extends circumferentially around a portion of the axle portion 9.Circulation of lubrication material between the reservoir 16 and theengaging surfaces ofthe axle portion 9 and the cutting cone 12 thereonis provided by the passage 19 which is illustrated a plurality ofchannels extending from the reservoir 16 to the exterior surfaces of thefirst and second portions of the axle portion 9 and to the shoulderthcrebetween.

The cutting cone 12 is retained on the axle portion 9 by a suitable lockdevice, such as a lock ring 29, as later described, which is mounted ina groove in the exterior surface of the second portion 24 of the axleportion 9.

The second arm or lug 7 illustrated as being substantially similar tothe first arm or lug 6 except that the axle portion 10 thereon has agroove 31 in the larger portion of the axle portion 10 for a lock ringto retain the cutting cone 13 thereon. The second arm or lug 7 and theaxle portion 10 thereon does not have a flow passage for flow ofdrilling fluid therethrough. The second arm or lug 7 has an exteriorsurface 32 which is substantially vertical and is sized to be spacedaway from an adjacent surface of the drill hole 15. The reservoir 17 inthe axle portion 10 is substantially similar to the reservoir 16 in theaxle portion 9 and the passage 20 is defined by the channels in theexterior surfaces of the axle portion 10 and is substantially similar tothe passage 19 in the axle portion 9 except that a channel is alsoformed in an end of the axle portion 10 to provide lubrication materialfor the cutting cone 13 when bearing against same.

The third arm or lug 8 is illustrated as being substantially similar tothe second arm or lug 7 except the third arm or lug 8 has a flow passage33 therethrough which has a first portion 34 extending toward anintersection of a side and bottom of the drill hole 15 for directing thefluid toward said intersection.

The flow passage 26 through the first arm or lug 6 directs the fluidtoward the bottom of the drill hole 15 at the center thereof and theninto a space between the cutting cones 13 and 14. The fluid from thefirst portion 34 of the flow passage 33 is directed from the leadingside of the arm or lug 8 and into the space between the cutting cones 13and 14in a manner to join with the fluid from the flow passage 26 forupwardly flow in the drill hole 15.

The flow passage 33 through the third arm or lug 8 has a second portion35 positioned to direct the fluid from the trailing side of the arm orlug 8 and toward an intersection of the side and bottom of the drillhole and toward the cutting cone 12 on the first arm or lug 6 to sweepthe drill hole 15 ahead of the cutting cone 12 whereby the teeth, aslater described, on the cutting cone 12 are working in substantially newmaterial rather than drilling debris.

The first cutting cone 12 has walls defining a cavity therein whichsubstantially conforms to the exterior shape of the axle portion 9 forengagement therewith. The cutting cone 12 has surfaces engageable withthe first or larger portion of the axle portion 9, shoulder 25, andsecond or smaller portion 24 of the axle portion 9. The cutting cone 12has an opening or aperture 36 which is coaxial with the axis of rotationthereof to thereby permit the axle portion 9 and the flow passage 26therethrough to extend through the cutting cone 12 for flow of fluidinto the drill hole 15.

The lubrication material is preferably retained within the cavity in therespective cutting cones and in engagement with the respective axleportion, therefore, the cutting cone 12 has a base surface 37 positionedadjacent the first arm or lug 6 and a groove 38 is positioned at theintersection of the base surface 37 and the walls defining the cavitywithin the cutting cone 9. The groove 38 is adapted to receive asuitable seal, such as an O-ring 39, which is engageable with the firstarm or lug 6 particularly when the cutting cone 12 is working in thedrill hole 15. A groove 40 is formed in the surface engageable with thesecond or smaller portion 24 of the axle portion 9 and is adapted toreceive the lock ring 29 therein. The cutting cone 12 has a groove 41positioned adjacent the groove 40 and adapted to receive a suitableseal, such as an O-ring 42 engageable with the second portion 24 of theaxle portion 9.

The O-rings 39 and 42 cooperate to retain lubrication material on theaxle portion 9 and within the cavity within the cutting cone 12 therebydefining a closed lubrication system.

The cutting cone 12 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced teetharranged in a pair of spaced rings 43 and 44 with the ring 43 beingpositioned adjacent the arm or lug 6 and being positioned to engage anintersection of a side and a bottom of the drill hole 15 for cutting todefine the side and a portion of the bottom of the drill hole 15. Thesecond ring 44 of teeth on the cutting cone 12 are positionedintermediate the side of the drill hole and the center of the drillhole.

The second cutting cone 13 mounted on the second arm or lug 7 has teeththereon positioned to engage the bottom of the drill hole 15 at thecenter thereof. ln the illustrated structure, the cutting cone 13 hasthree rings 45, 46, and 47 respectively of cutting teeth spaced alongthe exterior surface of the cutting cone 13. The teeth in one of therings, for example the ring 45., are positioned to engage the bottom ofthe drill hole 15 at the center thereof whereby rotation of the drilltool 1 and the cutting cone ll3 defines the center of the drill hole 15.

The cutting cone 13 also has a cavity therein defined by surfacesengageable with respective surfaces of the axis portion of the secondarm or lug 7. The second cutting cone 13 also has a base surface 48 anda groove 49 at the intersection of the base surface 48 and the surfaceengageable with the larger portion of the axle portion 10 for receivinga suitable seal, such as an O- ring 50 which is engageable with thesecond arm or lug 7. The second cutting cone 13 has a groove 51 adaptedto receive a lock ring 52 having a portion thereof received in a similargroove in the axle portion 10.

The O-ring 50 retains lubrication material on the axle portion 10 andwithin the cavity in the cutting cone 13 thereby defining a closedlubrication system.

The third cutting cone 14 is illustrated as being substantially similarto the second cutting cone 13 except that there are two rings 53 and 54of circumferentially spaced teeth. The rings 43 and 44 of teeth on thecutting cone 12, the rings 45, 46, and 47 of teeth on the cutting cone13, and the rings 53 and 54 of teeth on the cutting cone 14 arepositioned longitudinally of the respective cutting cones and in opposedrelation with respective spaces between teeth on adjacent cutting coneswhereby the cutting cones 12, 13, and 14 present teeth extendingsubstantially the full transverse dimension of the drill tool 1.

The lock rings for mounting the nozzle 27 in the flow passage 26 and formounting the cutting cones 12, 13, and 14 on the axle portions 9, l0,and 11 respectively each are illustrated as a bar formed in a ring andhaving opposite ends 55 and 56 thereof spaced apart to permit adjustingthe spacing between the ends 55 and 56 for mounting the respective lockrings on the respective axle portions. The lock rings each have aplurality of circumferentially spaced corrugations 57 to therebyincrease the strength of the bar.

The drill tool 1 is preferably assembled when submerged withinlubrication material whereby the drill tool 1 is self-lubricating andthe O-rings retain lubrication material on the respective axle portions9, l0, and 11 and within the cavity in the cutting cones 12, 13, and 14respectively thereon.

The drill tool 1 is rotated in the drill hole while engaging the bottomthereof thereby effecting rotation of the cutting cones l2, l3, and 14about the respective axle portions 9, 10, and 11 with the axis ofrotation of the cutting cones l2, l3, and 14 each intersecting thelongitudinal axis of the body member 2 at the center of the bottom ofthe drill hole 15. The bottom engaging surface of each of the cuttingcones 12, 13, and 14 is inclined upwardly toward the center of the drilltool 1 whereby the center of the drill hole 15 is slightly higher thanthe edges or sides of the drill hole whereby the drill tool 1 issubstantiallyself-centering to thereby position the ring 43 of teeth oncutting cone 12 in position to engage and thereby define the sideof thedrill hole 15 while the cutting cones 13 and 14 define remainingportions of the bottom of the drill hole 15,

Fluid flowing from the flow passage 26 through the first arm or lug 6and from the first portion 34 of the flow passage 33 through the thirdarm or lug 8 joins together and collects and raises drilling debrisabove the drill tool 1. Fluid flowing from the second portion35 of theflow passage 33 flows toward the cutting cone 12 and creates a fluidturbulance for the teeth on the cutting cone 12 as same are being movedinto the material at the intersection of the side and bottom of thedrill hole 15.

FIGS. 12, 13, and 14 illustrate a modified drill tool 60 adapted to useair, gas, or the like, as a medium for cooling and removing drillingdebris from the drill hole 15. The modified drill tool 60 has a bodymember and a passage therein similar to the drill tool 1.

The modified drilltool 60 includes a first arm or lug 61 which issubstantially similar to the arm or lug 6 except a notch 62 is formed ina shoulder 63 positioned between a first or larger portion 64 and asecond or smaller portion 65 of an axle portion 66 on the first arm orlug 61.

In addition to a flow passage 67 which is substantially similar to theflow passage 26, the first arm or lug 61 includes a fluid passage or airhole 68 extending between and communicating the flow passage 67 with theshoulder 63 to provide circulating air through bearings 69 engaging thesecond or smaller portion 65 of the axle portion 66.

A groove 70 is formed in the exterior surface of the second or smallerportion 65 of the axle portion 66 to receive a lock ring 71 which issubstantially similar to the lock ring illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11for retaining a cutting cone, as later described thereon.

The modified drill tool 60 includes a second arm or lug 72 having anaxle portion 73 which has a first or larger portion 74 and a second orsmaller portion '75 with a shoulder 76 therebetween an end surface77 ofthe second or smaller portion and the shoulder 76 provide thrust bearingsurfaces for a cutting cone mounted on the axle portion 73 all similarto the sec ond arm or lug 7 of the drill tool 1.

The second arm or lug 72 has a flow passage 78 having one endcommunicating with the passage in the body member and the other endterminating adjacent the axle portion 73 where a fluid passage or airhole 79 extends between the flow passage 78 and the end surface 77 ofthe axle portion 73 to provide for circulating air through bearings 80in engagement with the second or smaller portion 75 of the axle portion73.

The exterior surface of the first or larger portion 74 of the axleportion 73 has a groove 81 therein adapted to receive a lock ring 82 forretaining a cutting cone, as later described, thereon.

The modified drill tool 60 includes a third arm or lug 83 which issubstantially similar to the second arm or lug 72 and includes a flowpassage 84 similar to the flow passage 33 in the arm or lug 8 and thethird arm or lug 83 includes a fluid passage or air hole 85 extendingbetween the flow passage 84 and an end surface 86 of a second or smallerportion 87 of an axle portion 88. A first or larger portion 89 of theaxle portion 88 has a groove 90 in the exterior surface thereof which isadapted to receive a lock ring 91 for retaining a cutting cone, as laterdescribed, thereon.

A cutting cone 92 is mounted on the axle portion 66 of the first arm orlug 61 and has teeth substantially similar to those on the cutting cone12. The cutting cone 92 has a cavity therein substantially similar tothe cavity within the cutting cone 12 except the cutting cone 92includes a recess 93 adapted to receive the bearings 69 which are inengagement with the second or smaller portion 65 of the axle portion 66.The cutting cone 92 also includes a pair of recesses 94 and 95 adaptedto receive bearings 96 and 97 respectively which are in engagement withan exterior surface ofthe first or larger portion 64 of the axle portion66.

The cutting cone 92 has a surface or shoulder 98 adapted to receive andengage a thrust bearing 99 mounted in the notch 62 in the shoulder 63 ofthe axle portion 66.

A cutting cone 100 is mounted on the axle portion 73 of the second armor lug 72 and is substantially similar to the cutting cone 13particularly as to position of the cutting teeth on the exterior surfacethereof. The cutting cone 100 includes a recess 101 adapted to receivethe bearings 80 which are in engagement with the second or smallerportion 75 of the axle portion 73. The cutting cone 100 also includes arecess 102 adapted to receive a bearing 103 which is in engagement withthe first or larger portion 74 of the axle portion 73.

A cutting cone 104 is mounted on the axle portion 88 ofthe third arm orlug 83 and in a manner similar to the mounting of the cutting cone 100on the axle portion 73. The cutting cone 104 has teeth on the exteriorsurface thereof substantially similar to the teeth on the cutting cone14. The cavity within the cutting cone 104 is substantially similar tothe cavity within the cutting cone 100.

Use of the modified drill tool 60 illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 14inclusive is substantially similar to use of the drill tool 1 exceptthat there is no lubrication material between engaging surfaces of theaxle portions and cutting cones. Air provides lubrication of thebearings in the cutting cones and in engagement with the respective axleportions with the air being supplied through the respective air holesand air within the drill hole.

lt is to be understood that while I have illustrated and describedcertain forms of my invention, it is not to be limited to these specificforms or arrangement of parts herein described and shown.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A drill tool comprising:

a. a body member having a passage therein, said passage extending alonga longitudinal axis of said body member and between a fluid receivingend and a closed end;

b. a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms extending from said bodymember adjacent the closed end of said passage in said body member, eachof said arms having a leading side and a trailing side;

c. a plurality of axle portions each extending from a respective one ofsaid arms and along a respective axis intersecting the longitudinal axisof said body member in a manner to define a respective acute anglebetween the axis of the respective axle portion and the longitudinalaxis of said body members;

d. a plurality of cutting cones each rotatably mounted on a respectiveone of said axle portions, said cutting cones each having surfaces inengagement with respective exterior surfaces of said respective axleportions;

e. means on each of said axle portions and said respective cutting conethereon for retaining and circulating lubrication material forlubricating engaging surfaces of said cutting cones and said respectiveaxle portion;

. a flow passage through one of said arms with a portion of said flowpassage extending along the axis of rotation of the cutting cone mountedon one said arm, the portion of said flow passage through said one ofsaid arms being positioned to direct the fluid toward a bottom of thedrill hole and into a space between a pair of adjacent cutting cones;and

g. a second flow passage through one other of said arms with a portionthereof extending toward an intersection of a side and a bottom of thedrill hole for directing the fluid toward said intersection, the portionof said flow passage through said one other of said arms beingpositioned on the trailing side of said one other of said arms tothereby direct the fluid from said trailing side and toward saidintersection of the side and bottom of the drill hole and toward thecutting cone on said one of said arms to clear a space ahead of saidcutting cone and move drilling debris into the path of the fluid fromsaid flow passage through said one of said arms.

2. A drill tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flow passagethrough said one other of said arms has a second portion positioned onthe leading side of said one other of said arms to thereby direct thefluid from said leading side and toward said intersection of the sideand bottom of the drill hole and into the space between the pair ofadjacent cutting cones in a manner to join with the fluid from saidportion of said flow passage through said one of said arms.

3. A drill tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means formaintaining and circulating lubrication ma- Y terial includes:

a. walls on each of said cutting cones defining a cavity therein;

b. each of said arms has a respective one of said axle portions thereonand extending therefrom, said axle portions each having an exteriorsurface engageable with respective surfaces of the walls defining saidcavity in said respective cuttingcone mounted thereon;

c. walls on each of said axle portions defining a reservoir in theexterior surface thereof, said reservoirs each being adapted to receiveand retain lubrication therein;

d. at least one passage on each of said axle portions for communicatingsaid respective reservoir with the exterior surface of said respectiveaxle portion for flow of lubrication material between said respectivereservoir and said respective exterior sur face for lubricatingengagement with the engaging surfaces of each of said cutting cones andsaid respective axle portion; and seal means engaging of said axleportions and said axle portions and said respective cutting conesmounted thereon for closing the respective cavity thereby retaining thelubrication material therein.

4. A drill tool as set forth in claim 3 including:

a. means in the exterior surface of each of said axle portions defininga groove therein, said groove in each of said axle portions being spacedfrom said respective reservoir therein;

b. means in certain of the walls defining the cavity in each of saidcutting cones defining a groove therein, said groove in each of saidcutting cones being alignable with the groove in the exterior surface ofsaid respective axle portion; and

. a lock ring for each of the aligned grooves in said axle portions andsaid respective cutting cones for retaining said cutting cones on saidrespective axle portions, said lock rings each being a bar having aplurality of circumferentially spaced corrugations.

S. A drill tool comprising:

. a body member having a passage therein, said passage being in a pinportion of said body member and extending along a longitudinal axis ofsaid body member and between a fluid receiving end and a closed end;

b. a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms extending from said bodymember adjacent the closed end of said passage in said body member, eachof said arms having a leading side and a trailing side;

c. a plurality of axle portions each extending from a respective one ofsaid arms and along a respective axis intersecting the longitudinal axisof said body member in a manner to define a respective acute anglebetween the axis of the respective axle portion and the longitudinalaxis of said body member;

d. a plurality of cutting cones each rotatably mounted on a respectiveone of said axle portions, said cutting cones each having surfaces inengagement with respective exterior surfaces of said respective axleportions;

. flow passages through certain of said arms and communicating with thepassage in the pin portion of said body member for flow of fluidtherethrough and into a drill hole to remove drilling debris from thedrill hole, said flow passages comprising:

1. a first flow passage having a portion extending along the axis ofrotation of the cutting cone mounted on the axle portion of one of saidarms and positioned to direct the fluid toward a bottom of the drillhole and into a space between a pair of adjacent cutting cones;

2. a second flow passage having a first portion thereof extending towardan intersection of a side and a bottom of the drill hole for directingthe fluid toward said intersection, said first portion of said secondflow passage being positioned on the leading side of said respective armto thereby direct the fluid from said leading side and toward saidintersection of the side and bottom of the drill hole and into the spacebetween the pair of adjacent cutting cones in a manner to join with thefluid from said first flow passage 5 through said one of said arms; and

3. a second portion of said second flow passage being positioned on thetrailing side of said respective arm to thereby direct fluid from saidtrailing side and toward an intersection of the side and bottom of thedrill hole and toward the cutting cone on said one of said arms; and

f. means on each of said axle portions and said respective cutting conesthereon for retaining and circulating lubrication material forlubricating engaging surfaces of said cutting cones and said respectiveaxle portions.

6. A drill tool as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for retainingand circulating lubrication material includes:

a. walls on each of said axle portions defining a reservoir in theexterior surface thereof, said reservoirs each being adapted to receiveand retain lubrication material therein;

b. passages on each of said axle portions and extending between saidrespective reservoir and the exterior surfaces of said respective axleportions for communicating said respective reservoir and exteriorsurfaces thereof for flow of lubrication material between saidrespective reservoir and said respective exterior surfaces forlubricating engagement with the engaging surfaces of each of saidcutting cones and said respective axle portion; and

c. seal means engaging the exterior surface of each of said axleportions and respective surfaces of said respective cutting cone mountedthereon for retaining the lubrication material in engagement with theengaging surfaces of each of said cutting cones and said respective axleportion.

7. A drill tool as set forth in claim 5 wherein:

a. each of said axle portions has a first portion adjacent saidrespective arm and a smaller portion extending from said first portionto define a shoulder therebetween;

b. one of said first portion and said second portion of each of saidaxle portions has means in the exterior surface thereof defining agroove therein;

c. each of said cutting cones has walls defining a cavity therein andengageable with respective exterior surfaces of the first portion andsecond portion and shoulder of said respective axle portion;

d. one of said walls of each of said cutting cones has means thereindefining a groove alignable with the groove in the exterior surface ofsaid respective axle portion; and

e. a respective lock ring is received in each of the aligned grooves insaid axle portions and said respective cutting cone thereon forretaining said cutting cones on said respective axle portions, said lockrings each being a bar having a plurality of circumferentially spacedcorrugations.

1. A drill tool comprising: a. a body member having a passage therein,said passage extending along a longitudinal axis of said body member andbetween a fluid receiving end and a closed end; b. a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced arms extending from said body member adjacentthe closed end of said passage in said body member, each of said armshaving a leading side and a trailing side; c. a plurality of axleportions each extending from a respective one of said arms and along arespective axis intersecting the longitudinal axis of said body memberin a manner to define a respective acute angle between the axis of therespective axle portion and the longitudinal axis of said body members;d. a plurality of cutting cones each rotatably mounted on a respectiveone of said axle portions, said cutting cones each having surfaces inengagement with respective exterior surfaces of said respective axleportions; e. means on each of said axle portions and said respectivecutting cone thereon for retaining and circulating lubrication materialfor lubricating engaging surfaces of said cutting cones and saidrespective axle portion; f. a flow passage through one of said arms witha portion of said flow passage extending along the axis of rotation ofthe cutting cone mounted on one said arm, the portion of said flowpassage through said one of said arms being positioned to direct thefluid toward a bottom of the drill hole and into a space between a pairof adjacent cutting cones; and g. a second flow passage through oneother of said arms with a portion thereof extending toward anintersection of a side and a bottom of the drill hole for directing thefluid toward said intersection, the portion of said flow passage throughsaid one other of said arms being positioned on the trailing side ofsaid one other of said arms to thereby direct the fluid from saidtrailing side and toward said intersection of the side and bottom of thedrill hole and toward the cutting cone on said one of said arms to cleara space ahead of said cutting cone and move drilling debris into thepath of the fluid from said flow passage through said one of said arms.2. A drill tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flow passagethrough said one other of said arms has a second portion positioned onthe leading side of said one other of said arms to thereby direct thefluid from said leading side and toward said intersection of the sideand bottom of the drill hole and into the spaCe between the pair ofadjacent cutting cones in a manner to join with the fluid from saidportion of said flow passage through said one of said arms.
 2. a secondflow passage having a first portion thereof extending toward anintersection of a side and a bottom of the drill hole for directing thefluid toward said intersection, said first portion of said second flowpassage being positioned on the leading side of said respective arm tothereby direct the fluid from said leading side and toward saidintersEction of the side and bottom of the drill hole and into the spacebetween the pair of adjacent cutting cones in a manner to join with thefluid from said first flow passage through said one of said arms; and 3.a second portion of said second flow passage being positioned on thetrailing side of said respective arm to thereby direct fluid from saidtrailing side and toward an intersection of the side and bottom of thedrill hole and toward the cutting cone on said one of said arms; and f.means on each of said axle portions and said respective cutting conesthereon for retaining and circulating lubrication material forlubricating engaging surfaces of said cutting cones and said respectiveaxle portions.
 3. A drill tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidmeans for maintaining and circulating lubrication material includes: a.walls on each of said cutting cones defining a cavity therein; b. eachof said arms has a respective one of said axle portions thereon andextending therefrom, said axle portions each having an exterior surfaceengageable with respective surfaces of the walls defining said cavity insaid respective cutting cone mounted thereon; c. walls on each of saidaxle portions defining a reservoir in the exterior surface thereof, saidreservoirs each being adapted to receive and retain lubrication therein;d. at least one passage on each of said axle portions for communicatingsaid respective reservoir with the exterior surface of said respectiveaxle portion for flow of lubrication material between said respectivereservoir and said respective exterior surface for lubricatingengagement with the engaging surfaces of each of said cutting cones andsaid respective axle portion; and seal means engaging of said axleportions and said axle portions and said respective cutting conesmounted thereon for closing the respective cavity thereby retaining thelubrication material therein.
 4. A drill tool as set forth in claim 3including: a. means in the exterior surface of each of said axleportions defining a groove therein, said groove in each of said axleportions being spaced from said respective reservoir therein; b. meansin certain of the walls defining the cavity in each of said cuttingcones defining a groove therein, said groove in each of said cuttingcones being alignable with the groove in the exterior surface of saidrespective axle portion; and c. a lock ring for each of the alignedgrooves in said axle portions and said respective cutting cones forretaining said cutting cones on said respective axle portions, said lockrings each being a bar having a plurality of circumferentially spacedcorrugations.
 5. A drill tool comprising: a. a body member having apassage therein, said passage being in a pin portion of said body memberand extending along a longitudinal axis of said body member and betweena fluid receiving end and a closed end; b. a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced arms extending from said body member adjacentthe closed end of said passage in said body member, each of said armshaving a leading side and a trailing side; c. a plurality of axleportions each extending from a respective one of said arms and along arespective axis intersecting the longitudinal axis of said body memberin a manner to define a respective acute angle between the axis of therespective axle portion and the longitudinal axis of said body member;d. a plurality of cutting cones each rotatably mounted on a respectiveone of said axle portions, said cutting cones each having surfaces inengagement with respective exterior surfaces of said respective axleportions; e. flow passages through certain of said arms andcommunicating with the passage in the pin portion of said body memberfor flow of fluid therethrough and into a drill hole to remove drillingdebris from the drill hole, said flow passages comprising:
 6. A drilltool as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for retaining andcirculating lubrication material includes: a. walls on each of said axleportions defining a reservoir in the exterior surface thereof, saidreservoirs each being adapted to receive and retain lubrication materialtherein; b. passages on each of said axle portions and extending betweensaid respective reservoir and the exterior surfaces of said respectiveaxle portions for communicating said respective reservoir and exteriorsurfaces thereof for flow of lubrication material between saidrespective reservoir and said respective exterior surfaces forlubricating engagement with the engaging surfaces of each of saidcutting cones and said respective axle portion; and c. seal meansengaging the exterior surface of each of said axle portions andrespective surfaces of said respective cutting cone mounted thereon forretaining the lubrication material in engagement with the engagingsurfaces of each of said cutting cones and said respective axle portion.7. A drill tool as set forth in claim 5 wherein: a. each of said axleportions has a first portion adjacent said respective arm and a smallerportion extending from said first portion to define a shouldertherebetween; b. one of said first portion and said second portion ofeach of said axle portions has means in the exterior surface thereofdefining a groove therein; c. each of said cutting cones has wallsdefining a cavity therein and engageable with respective exteriorsurfaces of the first portion and second portion and shoulder of saidrespective axle portion; d. one of said walls of each of said cuttingcones has means therein defining a groove alignable with the groove inthe exterior surface of said respective axle portion; and e. arespective lock ring is received in each of the aligned grooves in saidaxle portions and said respective cutting cone thereon for retainingsaid cutting cones on said respective axle portions, said lock ringseach being a bar having a plurality of circumferentially spacedcorrugations.